I sit here on this cloudy morning and glance out the window and see leaves falling calmly from the tree. There are more leaves down than are on the branches - leaving a plush and glowing carpet of orange - but there are just enough left to feel like one doesn't quite need to settle in for winter, yet - I think we can give it a day or two more. And when the leaves flutter and cascade down, it's so pretty and makes my heart so glad as I watch it but, then, the moment that it stops, I can't remember the feeling until it starts happening again. I don't understand what I'm sensing, really, but I think I'd describe it as a reaction to intensely bittersweet beauty!!

So, how in the world did I wind up with this summery post? I wondered at first. Well, the peaches, against all odds, were sitting there in the grocery store - in the early middle of October - glowing and fragrant and on sale and there was this recipe that called to me - a peach, rose and basil galette from the blog 'Local Milk'. But, also, I think that this is a last 'farewell to summer' post. Tom and I feel like we sort of missed it with all of the renovations that we've been working on inside our home. And, well, there's no point crying over spilt milk - summer has passed - and winter is a giant reset button; so, we'll happily move on. I think that I just needed to kind of have one last fling. One last summer celebration. And these peach pies, with the bouquet of rose that just seems to linger in the mouth and the sweet, yumminess of the peaches and the hint of basil (picked from my sister's late autumn garden - having survived a light frost) - that hint of basil that makes one believe that surely the potager is still thriving.... it was just the thing. Not to mention that jar of honey - a gift to my husband in appreciation of his pastoral gifts - that is straight from a friend's hive - used to sweeten the peaches... Yes, these little summer fruit pies were just perfect for one very sweet, last goodbye to summer....

Well, maybe not THE very last... I have begged the guys to leave the picnic table out for a wee bit longer..... perhaps.... perhaps we'll have one more mild day....